Collaborating with KCBDD

The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities welcomes agencies, businesses and community members to partner with the Developmental Disabilities community. We believe that building a strong, inclusive community begins with collaboration. We are constantly developing new partnerships.

For more information, comments or suggestion contact our Quality Assurance & Communications department at 740-393-5713.

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Career Opportunities

There are many ways to be a part of the Developmental Disabilities community. The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities supports around 200 employees through external sources such as Adult Day Service programs and Residential programs. To become employed with a local Adult Day Service or Residential provider please check with each individual site.

Local Adult Day Service Programs:

Creative Foundations

Concepts In Community Living

Donkeys, Horses, Goats & More

Easter Seals

Hebron Hills

Midwest Innovations (Dusk to Dawn Candle Shop)

New Hope Industries

Willow Works (Mount Vernon Developmental Center owned/operated)

VIP Clowns

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Donating In-Kind Items

The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities appreciates and welcomes donations from members of the community and businesses. Donations must be approved by the Board.

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Employing Individuals

People with disabilities are a source of qualified workers that is frequently overlooked. Both large and small companies have benefited by recruiting people with disabilities for many years. Many leading companies attribute much of their success to employing a diverse workforce that includes people with disabilities. This pool of workers represents one of the largest groups seeking employment in today’s market. More than 70 percent of adults with disabilities want to work – that’s an untapped work force of 18 million people.

Here are some other benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities:

American Airlines calculated savings of 20 percent in recruiting costs by using nonprofit partners (such as rehabilitation agencies, Developmental Disabilities and welfare offices) to help in its recruitment efforts.

Employers tell the United States Chamber of Commerce that, once hired, individuals with disabilities provide some of the best employees within a corporation.

Employers report that employees with disabilities are generally dependable, dedicated, hardworking, and productive.

Employers report that the work ethic of employees with a disability has a positive effect on the morale and production of their colleagues.

Individuals with disabilities maintain above average work attendance and productivity.

People with disabilities have proven to have nearly 85 percent one-year employment retention rates and are also 70% more likely than a typical employee to stay at a job five years or longer (U.S. Department of Education, 2003)

People with disabilities possess valuable problem-solving skills because they are experts in finding creative ways to perform tasks others may take for granted.

Even households with no disability connection felt goodwill towards companies that included people with disabilities and were more likely to buy their products. (Solutions Marketing Group, 2003).

By raising awareness that your company is a disability-friendly business, you will attract job candidates and new customers.

Your business has an important partner in the effort to enhance its success through diversity. Each individual with a disability has a support team invested in the on-going success of that individual in being an excellent employee. This may include teaching the individual the job, helping them resolve problems, helping them learn new skills and working with you, the employer, to assure that individual continues to be a successful member of your team.

Employer fears concerning expensive insurance premiums and expensive modifications to work site are unfounded. Very often little or no adaptation to the work environment is needed.

Incentives for small and medium-sized businesses make tapping into the disability community an attractive recruiting strategy.

There are three tax incentives (small business tax credit, architectural and transportation tax deduction, and work opportunity tax credit) available to help employers cover accommodation costs for employees or customers with disabilities.

Because of recent Medicare changes and Medicaid buy-in programs, many people with disabilities carry their own primary insurance, thereby reducing their employer’s costs.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, prohibits discrimination against people with physical and mental disabilities in areas such as employment.

There are many ways to support employing individuals with disabilities. To employ individuals with disabilities contact:

BVR

BVSI

New Hope Industries (NHI)

Creative Foundations

Contract Work:

New Hope Industries currently has a staff of individuals with disabilities experienced in performing contract work for various companies such as product assembly, packaging, shredding, and sorting.

For More information on How NHI can help your business:
Contact Terri Pribonic at:
740-397-4601 ext. 4633
or email: t_pribonic@newhopeind.com

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Supporting Our Partners

Under Construction

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Volunteering

The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities does not need volunteers at this time. However, many clubs and programs in Knox County welcome you to volunteer and support individuals with disabilities. Programs supporting individuals with devlopmmental disabilities include Special Olympics of Knox County, People First of Knox County and Aktion Club of Knox County. If you are interested in volunteering for one of these programs, please call 740-397-4656 to get the most current contact information.

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